Arboretum de Grignon
Encyclopedia
The Arboretum de Grignon (0.8 hectares) is an arboretum
located within the campus of the Institut des sciences et industries du vivant et de l'environnement (AgroParisTech) on Avenue Lucien Brétignières, Thiverval-Grignon
, Yvelines
, Île-de-France
, France
. It is closed to the public but may be visited by groups.
The arboretum was established in 1873 by M. Mouillefert, professor at Grignon, who published in 1896 a pamphlet describing the arboretum at that date; however, it was lost in 1940. The arboretum grew gradually over time, with the most recent plantings between 1976-1978. Various of the trees were labeled in 1975 by Mr. George Callen of the Arboretum de Chèvreloup
, and in 1991 Mr. Augustin Scalbert created a map identifying almost all trees. At that time, the arboretum contained approximately 230 specimens (66% deciduous
, 34% conifers).
Unfortunately, the arboretum was heavily damaged in the storm of December 1999, which destroyed 23 trees and severely damaged 16. In response, the Association de l'arbre de fer was established in 2001 to protect and enhance the natural environment of the former Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon
. In 2003 it began restoration and enlargement of the arboretum, as well as creation of a botanical trail and rehabilitation of the campus botanical garden.
Today the arboretum contains about 125 tree species
and varieties, including notable, mature specimens of Cedrus atlantica, Fagus sylvatica var. "Tortuosa", Gingko biloba, Gleditsia triacanthos, Parrotia persica, Pinus nigra subsp. laricio, Sophora japonica "pendula", and Zelkova carpinifolia
.
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
located within the campus of the Institut des sciences et industries du vivant et de l'environnement (AgroParisTech) on Avenue Lucien Brétignières, Thiverval-Grignon
Thiverval-Grignon
Thiverval-Grignon is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France.-References:*...
, Yvelines
Yvelines
Yvelines is a French department in the region of Île-de-France.-History:Yvelines was created from the western part of the defunct department of Seine-et-Oise on 1 January 1968 in accordance with a law passed on 10 January 1964 and a décret d'application from 26 February 1965.It gained the...
, Île-de-France
Île-de-France (région)
Île-de-France is the wealthiest and most populated of the twenty-two administrative regions of France, composed mostly of the Paris metropolitan area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is closed to the public but may be visited by groups.
The arboretum was established in 1873 by M. Mouillefert, professor at Grignon, who published in 1896 a pamphlet describing the arboretum at that date; however, it was lost in 1940. The arboretum grew gradually over time, with the most recent plantings between 1976-1978. Various of the trees were labeled in 1975 by Mr. George Callen of the Arboretum de Chèvreloup
Arboretum de Chèvreloup
The Arboretum de Chèvreloup is a major arboretum located just north of the Palace of Versailles at 30, route de Versailles, Rocquencourt, Yvelines, Île-de-France, France...
, and in 1991 Mr. Augustin Scalbert created a map identifying almost all trees. At that time, the arboretum contained approximately 230 specimens (66% deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
, 34% conifers).
Unfortunately, the arboretum was heavily damaged in the storm of December 1999, which destroyed 23 trees and severely damaged 16. In response, the Association de l'arbre de fer was established in 2001 to protect and enhance the natural environment of the former Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon
Institut national agronomique Paris-Grignon
The Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon was a French grande école. It was created in 1971 by merging the Institut national agronomique and the École nationale supérieure d'Agronomie de Grignon, thus having a history that goes back to 1826.INA P-G disappeared as an administrative entity on...
. In 2003 it began restoration and enlargement of the arboretum, as well as creation of a botanical trail and rehabilitation of the campus botanical garden.
Today the arboretum contains about 125 tree species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and varieties, including notable, mature specimens of Cedrus atlantica, Fagus sylvatica var. "Tortuosa", Gingko biloba, Gleditsia triacanthos, Parrotia persica, Pinus nigra subsp. laricio, Sophora japonica "pendula", and Zelkova carpinifolia
Zelkova carpinifolia
Zelkova carpinifolia is a species of Zelkova, native to the Caucasus, Kaçkar, and Alborz mountains in the extreme southeast of Europe and southwest Asia....
.
See also
- Jardin botanique de l'Institut NationalJardin botanique de l'Institut NationalThe Jardin botanique de l'Institut National is a small botanical garden located within the campus of the Institut des sciences et industries du vivant et de l'environnement , formerly known as the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon, on the Avenue Lucien Brétignières, Thiverval-Grignon,...
- List of botanical gardens in France